The Fake Key
An unofficial (as if you couldn't tell by the name ^_^ ) Key fic set in the Slayers universe, with a little of Ranma ½ tossed in.
I disclaim any responsibility for this fic.
Zelgadis looked curiously at the large, ornate key he held in his hand. Made completely out of some clearish purple material he did not recognize - a magical material perhaps? - the key had sparkly silver flecks all throughout it. The whole key had a dull gleam to it. Gaining no clue as to its purpose from its appearance, he returned his attention to the box he had removed it from. The polished wooden box, plain except for the design carved on the top, which he now realized was a stylized key, sat atop a pedestal in the exact middle of the circular room he stood in. The walls and the pedestal itself exuded a gentle white light, obviously magical in nature.
Zelgadis had found this room, and the passageway which led to it, during his search for a possible cure to his condition. Ever since his grandfather had changed him into a chimera - part human, part golem, and part blue demon - he had longed for his purely human body back. He despised his wiry, blueish-purple hair, his hard blue skin, and the rock clusters sprinkled across his body. Now that he was no longer under his grandfather's control, he had been searching for a cure, with spectacularly little success.
Looking inside the box, he saw a loose piece of paper and a scroll tied with a purple ribbon. He picked up the piece of paper, which said:
"The wildest dreams of the Keyholder will be granted at the Palace!"
/The Palace?/ thought Zelgadis, as his eyes narrowed. /Maybe I will be able to be cured there./ He picked up the scroll, and unrolled it. It was a map, with "The Palace" prominently displayed. He mentally shrugged. He might as well go, even though it would probably be as much of a wild goose chase as all the other possible cures he'd hunted down. At least this time he wouldn't have Lina and the others tagging along with him.
Zelgadis eyed the large, gleaming palace dubiously. What was it doing in the middle of nowhere? He pulled his hood a little further down to make sure none of his hair showed, clutched the strange key, and entered.
The fancily outfitted guards looked at him scornfully, which changed to respect as soon as they saw the key. Nodding him in, he was directed to a well-dressed attendant.
"Very good, sir. I see you have the Plastic Key," he bowed to Zelgadis, not appearing to care that Zelgadis was hooded and masked. Not the typical reaction of people in palaces. But then, this obviously wasn't a typical palace. "Please follow me," he continued, and turned down a hallway.
Zelgadis had no choice but to follow him, his doubts about the wisdom of coming here increasing. This was just too weird, even for him. After following his guide through several passageways, they stopped in front of an ornate door.
"The Plastic Room," the guide declared, "Enjoy your stay at the Palace, sir. If you desire anything, just use the bellpull. I leave you in the knowledgeable hands of your slave now," he bowed and left.
Zelgadis looked at his key. Then he looked at the door. /Slave?/ He looked at his key, and then fitted it into the lock, ready for anything.
He was greeted with the sight a lush, well-appointed room dominated by the large, fluffy bed with a black satin cover and purple pillows. The main colors in the room were also black and purple. And on the center of the bed, was a seductive looking figure on his hands and knees, dressed only in a few flimsy black veils that revealed more than they disguised and a black collar. They certainly did not disguise the shoulder length purple hair, the horribly familiar, way too happy face, set into an unfamiliar seductive expression.
"Hello, Master," purred Xellos. "What would you like to do first?"
Zelgadis stared in shock at the Trickster Priest. Then he slammed the door, and fled as quickly as he could. He had not been ready for that.
Xellos sighed. He was never going to get out of here at this rate. Zelas-sama's punishments for insults to her - it had barely been an insult at all, really! - were getting more creative. His punishment was to pretend to be one of the Key slaves until he convinced someone to break him out of the "Palace." Though they did not know it, the employees of this Palace had no connection to the real Palace employees, and neither did this building. He had not been particularly concerned when Zelas-sama had told him his punishment; it would be just like a vacation, sex included. It wasn't, after all, as if he would get any Masters who would do anything to him he would be unwilling to do.
Then she showed up. He shuddered just thinking about his last Keyholder. The long brown hair, held up by pink ribbons, the pink dress....*shudder.* Azusa, she said her name was. For some reason she had latched onto him as soon as she entered the room (well, that part wasn't too odd...) and named him "Jean-Luc." He didn't want to think of all the awful things she had done while she was here.
As soon as she left, he had set up the Key so Zelgadis would find it. Unfortunately Zelgadis didn't seem to appreciate the circumstances his sometime traveling companion was in. He flopped back onto the bed. He had to get out of here soon.
End Part 1